LLANDEILO residents have launched a petition to pedestrianise a road in the centre of town.

Part of Carmarthen Street has been blocked off while work is carried out on the refurbishment of Shire Hall, which began last year.

Local jeweller, Claudine Barr, on Carmarthen Street said footfall has increased since the road was blocked off.

Mered Williams, a local resident who launched the petition argued: "It should fit well with the county council's Ten Rural Towns Regeneration Plan.

"Businesses need more footfall and tourists and residents more quiet and peaceful areas to enjoy our beautiful town."

The online petition has gained strong support online and in response Llandeilo town council has voted to support investigations by Carmarthenshire county council, in a vote of seven for to three against with one noted abstention.

Cllr Fischer said: "Residents are delighted that support for this project is growing and there is clear and positive momentum to see what can be done to realise it.

"Two new developments in the area, the Market Hall and Shire Hall, both on Carmarthen Street, have reduced local parking but will increase traffic and footfall through the currently blocked off road.”

Keeley Clarke, a local resident, said: “Issues like resident parking have been addressed several months ago and have brought us local residents together.

"We had little official response for our proposals since we began lobbying."

Last month Cllr Hazel Evans, executive board member for environment on Carmarthenshire Council said: “We’re aware of calls for the lower section of Carmarthen Street to be pedestrianised and although there is some merit to this given the narrowness of the road, we must consider the impact on other areas of the town.

“This section of Carmarthen Street is an integral part of a wider network of streets and closing one part of the network would have implications for the surrounding streets including access difficulties, elongated diversion routes and difficult turning manoeuvres."

The county council has since agreed to investigate further.